'Hurricane-force' winds in latest Met Éireann Storm Éowyn weather forecast which predicts snow

Storm Éowyn could bring 'hurricane force' winds in parts of Ireland as it sweeps through according to Met Éireann which has warned of bitter wintry weather to follow with some snow in some areas.

Met Éireann said early on Friday that "violent storm force to hurricane force" winds will occur for a time in some western coastal parts through the day as Storm Éowyn continues to impact.

As the winds abate, Met Éireann says cold conditions will set in through the evening and through Saturday. It said some of the showers will be of hail, with the chance of a little sleet and hill snow later.

Friday temperatures will be between 5 to 8 degrees but it will feel much colder due to wind-chill. Saturday will be cold with clear spells and scattered showers for a time, some wintry in another blustery day. Sunday will be wet and windy.

The forecaster's outlook is for low pressure to dominate for the rest of the weekend and for the first half of next week, with further spells of wet and windy weather. However high pressure is likely to bring some drier weather at least for a time later in the week.

Full Met Éireann forecast BELOW X POST

The current Wind Warnings in place have a various applicable times. Please be advised that while most of the Red Level Warnings finish by 12pm (Apart from Donegal), there are following Orange and Yellow Warnings in place.https://t.co/lvQFgW9biq#StormÉowyn pic.twitter.com/0L5vyxZUEl

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 24, 2025

Met Éireann National Forecast issued at 5.11am on Friday, January 24

Friday: Storm Eowyn will continue to bring mostly gale to storm force southwest to west winds for a time, with destructive and damaging gusts. Violent storm force to hurricane force winds will occur for a time in some western coastal parts of Connacht and coastal parts of west and north Ulster. The winds will gradually abate from the south over the course of the day, though it'll remain very windy in northern areas until evening time. There'll be scattered squally showers with longer spells of rain across the north of the country. Some of the showers will be of hail, with the chance of a little sleet and hill snow later. Highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees but feeling much colder due to wind-chill.

Friday night: Southwest winds will continue to decrease on tonight, becoming light to moderate. There'll be a mix of clear spells and scattered showers, these mainly in the west and north, some of hail, sleet and snow. The showers will become isolated later in the night. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees with some frost and ice.

Saturday: Frosty to begin tomorrow, but it'll be mainly dry for a time with sunny spells. Cloud will increase from the west, with a band of showery rain moving into western parts through the morning and gradually spread eastwards through the day, with a little bit of sleet too, mainly over higher ground. Sunshine and scattered showers will follow into the western half of the country though the afternoon, some of hail and again a little sleet and possibly hill snow. There's a chance of a few isolated thunderstorms too. A rather cold day with highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees. Southerly winds will increase fresh and gusty for a time, stronger in some coastal parts, but easing again later.

Saturday night will be cold with clear spells and scattered showers for a time, some wintry. The showers will mainly be in the west and north early on in the night. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees generally, with some frost and ice. Southerly winds will be mostly light to moderate, backing southeasterly later in the night and increasing fresh to strong in coastal parts of the south and southwest. Cloud will start to increase overnight, with rain moving into southwestern coastal parts by morning.

Sunday: It'll become wet and windy on Sunday, with a band of rain gradually spreading northeastwards through the morning and afternoon, some of it heavy and possibly thundery. The rain will clear northeastwards later, but scattered showers will follow and with more persistent and heavy rain likely to move into the south and southeast in the evening. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees in strong and gusty southeasterly winds, reaching gale force for a time in some coastal parts, decreasing mostly moderate southerly away from the west coast later in the day.

Sunday night will bring the chance of some persistent rain for a time to parts of the south and east, otherwise there'll be a mix of clear spells and scattered showers, these mainly in the west and south, some heavy and possibly thundery. Lowest temperatures of 1 degrees in the north to 6 degrees in the south and southwest in mostly moderate southerly winds, but winds will be strong to near gale force in coastal parts of the south and west.

Monday: Rather windy with showers or longer spells of rain, some of it heavy with the chance of some isolated thunderstorms. There'll be some dry and bright spells at times too. Highest temperatures of 4 to 9 degrees in fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds, reaching near gale to gale force in some coastal parts of the south and west.

Monday night will bring some clear spells but further showers or longer spells of rain too. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 7 degrees with winds becoming cyclonic variable for a time and later becoming mostly moderate to fresh northwesterly.

Tuesday: Blustery day with sunshine and scattered showers too and the chance of a longer spell of rain in the north. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in fresh to strong and gusty west to northwest winds, reaching near gale force in coastal parts of the west and northwest.

Some rain is likely near the north coast on Tuesday night with rain moving into parts of the south and west too. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees with the chance of some frost under any clearer skies as winds will be easing.

Wednesday: Sunshine and some scattered showers, mainly to the north and west and with the chance of a more persistent spell of rain near the south coast. Highest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees with winds becoming moderate to fresh northwest to north.

Thursday: Mainly dry bright settled day with sunshine and light winds. Highest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees.